Vehicle Interior Member

ABSTRACT

In an interior member for a vehicle, a lens extends along a light guide member, and is provided with a groove receiving the light guide member therein, a first engaging portion provided on a wall that defines the groove, and a second engaging portion provided on a wall that defines the groove, and the interior member main body is provided with a first engaged portion engaged by the first engaging portion, and a second engaged portion engaged by the second engaging portion, the lens being resiliently deformable so as to bring the walls defining the groove toward each other.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a vehicle interior member configured tobe fitted on a vehicle.

BACKGROUND ART

A known door lining fitted on a vehicle door is provided with a linearlight guide member for transmitting light from a light source, and alens provided along the light guide member, and these components arepositioned between a door lining main body and a switch panel. (seePatent Document 1, for example) The lens is provided with a groove thatretains the light guide member, a clamped portion that is clampedbetween the door lining main body and the switch panel, and engagementclaws that are engaged by through holes provided in the door lining mainbody. The light guide member is connected to the door lining main bodyvia the lens. A part of the light emitted from the light source isirradiated from a side surface of the light guide member, and reachesthe cabin after passing through the clamped portion of the lens.

PRIOR ART DOCUMENT(S) Patent Document(s)

-   Patent Document 1: JP2015-155298A

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Task to be Accomplished by the Invention

According to the prior art disclosed in Patent Document 1, since thelens is clamped between the door lining main body and the switch panel,at the time of assembly, it is necessary to properly position the lenswith respect to the door lining main body and the switch panel whenclamping the lens between the door lining main body and the switchpanel. Therefore, the assembly work is not simple.

In view of such a problem of the prior art, a primary object of thepresent invention is to provide a structure for a vehicle interiormember having an interior member main body, a light guide member forconducting light from a light source, and a lens extending along thelight guide member that allows the light guide member to be easilyconnected to the interior member main body.

To achieve such an object, the present invention provides an interiormember (1) for a vehicle, comprising: an interior member main body (10,11, 12) forming an inner wall of a cabin; a linear light guide member(17) configured to conduct light from a light source in a lengthwisedirection and to irradiate the light from a side surface thereof; and alens (18) that transmits the light irradiated from the light guidemember; wherein the lens extends along the light guide member, and isprovided with a groove (26) receiving the light guide member therein, afirst engaging portion (21) provided on a wall that defines the groove,and a second engaging portion (22) provided on a wall that defines thegroove, and the interior member main body is provided with a firstengaged portion (34) engaged by the first engaging portion, and a secondengaged portion (35) engaged by the second engaging portion, the lensbeing resiliently deformable so as to bring the walls defining thegroove toward each other.

Since the relative position of the first engaging portion and the secondengaging portion can be changed by resiliently deforming the lens so asto bring the walls defining the groove come toward each other, the firstengaging portion and the second engaging portion can be brought intoengagement with the first engaged portion and the second engagedportion, respectively, with ease. Owing to this engagement, the interiormember main body and the lens can be joined to each other so that thelens and the light guide member can be mounted to the interior membermain body with ease.

Preferably, the lens includes a first wall (23) extending along thelight guide member, and a second wall (24) and a third wall (25)extending from either side edge of the first wall toward the light guidemember, the groove being defined by the first wall, the second wall andthe third wall.

Thereby, the lens can be resiliently deformed so as to cause the secondwall and the third wall to come toward each other with ease, and agroove can be thereby formed in the lens.

Preferably, the interior member main body is provided with an interiormember recess (29) receiving the light guide member and the lenstherein, wherein the first engaging portion projects from a surface ofthe second wall facing away from the light guide member, and the firstengaged portion comprises a hole formed in a wall part of the interiormember main body defining the interior member recess so as to receivethe first engaging portion therein, and wherein the second engagingportion projects from a surface of the third wall facing away from thelight guide member, and the second engaged portion comprises a holeformed in a wall part of the interior member main body defining theinterior member recess so as to receive the second engaging portiontherein.

Since the lens is received in the interior member recess, the occupantis prevented from touching the lens so that damages to the lens can beavoided. Since the first engaging portion and the second engagingportion project in mutually opposing directions, and the lens and theinterior member are joined to each other at the first engaging portionand the second engaging portion, the lens and the interior member can befirmly joined to each other.

Preferably, a projecting amount (L1) of the first engaging proportionfrom the surface of the second wall is smaller than a projecting amount(L2) of the second engaging proportion from the surface of the thirdwall.

The deformation of the lens that is required in the assembling processcan be minimized by engaging the second engaging portion with the secondengaged portion, and then engaging the first engaging portion with thefirst engaged portion so that the process of joining the lens to theinterior member main body is facilitated.

Preferably, the second engaged portion is passed through the wall partdefining the interior member recess, and the second engaging portion ispassed through the second engaged portion.

Since the second engaging portion is engaged by the second engagedportion by being passed through the second engaged portion, theconnection between the lens and the interior member main body can bemade highly firm.

Preferably, the second engaging portion is formed in a free end edge ofthe third wall.

Thereby, the opening region of the groove can be reinforced by thesecond engaging portion.

Preferably, the first engaging portion includes a plurality of firstengaging portions arranged in the extending direction of the lens, andthe second engaging portion includes a plurality of second engagingportions arranged in the extending direction of the lens, the secondengaging portions being each interposed between a corresponding mutuallyadjoining pair of the first engaging portions.

Since the first engaging portions and the second engaging portions canbe engaged by the corresponding first engaging portions and thecorresponding second engaging portions one after the other in analternating manner, the lens can be attached to the interior member mainbody with ease. Since the first engaging portions and the secondengaging portions are provided in mutually different positions along theextending direction of the lens, the attachment strength between thelens and the interior member main body can be maximized.

Preferably, the interior member main body includes a plate like mainboard (10) provided on a door panel (3) of a vehicle door (2), and apocket member (11, 12) disposed on an inner side of the main board anddefining a door pocket (6) in cooperation with the main body, and thelight guide member and the lens are provided on at least one of the mainboard and the pocket member.

Thereby, the interior of the door pocket can be illuminated.

Preferably, the door pocket extends in a fore and aft direction on thevehicle door, and the interior member recess is formed in a wall surfaceof at least one of the main board and the pocket member on an inside ofthe door pocket, the interior member recess extending linearly along anextending direction of the door pocket.

The door pocket can be illuminated along the extending direction of thedoor pocket. Since the light guide member is formed as a linear member,the light guide member can be connected to the interior member main bodywithout bending so that the assembly work is facilitated, and the lightguide member is protected from being damaged.

Preferably, the interior member recess is defined by an upper wall (30),a side wall (31) and a lower wall (32), the lower wall incliningdownward toward an inner part of the door pocket.

The light from the lens can illuminate a lower part of the door pocketso that the visibility of the storage space in the door pocket can beimproved.

Preferably, the upper wall defining the interior member recess isdisposed substantially horizontally.

Thereby, the light irradiated upward from the lens is shielded by theupper wall so that the visibility of the storage space in the doorpocket can be improved.

Effect of the Invention

The present invention thus provides a structure for a vehicle interiormember having an interior member main body, a light guide member forconducting light from a light source, and a lens extending along thelight guide member that allows the light guide member to be easilyconnected to the interior member main body.

Owing to the structure wherein the lens includes a first wall extendingalong the light guide member, and a second wall and a third wallextending from either side edge of the first wall toward the light guidemember, the groove being defined by the first wall, the second wall andthe third wall, the lens can be resiliently deformed so as to cause thesecond wall and the third wall to come toward each other with ease, anda groove can be thereby formed in the lens.

In the arrangement where the lens is received in the interior memberrecess, and the first engaging portion and the second engaging portionproject in mutually opposing directions, the occupant is prevented fromtouching the lens so that damages to the lens can be avoided, and thelens and the interior member can be firmly joined to each other.

If a projecting amount of the first engaging proportion from the surfaceof the second wall is smaller than a projecting amount of the secondengaging proportion from the surface of the third wall, the lens can bejoined to the interior member main body with ease by engaging the secondengaging portion with the second engaged portion, and then engaging thefirst engaging portion with the first engaged portion. At this time, thedeformation of the lens that is required in the assembling process canbe minimized, and the process of assembling the lens to the interiormember main body can be facilitated

If the second engaged portion is passed through the wall part definingthe interior member recess, and the second engaging portion is passedthrough the second engaged portion, the strength of the connectionbetween the lens and the interior member main body can be furtherimproved.

If the second engaging portion is formed in a free end edge of the thirdwall, the opening region of the groove can be reinforced by the secondengaging portion.

According to the arrangement where the first engaging portion includes aplurality of first engaging portions arranged in the extending directionof the lens, and the second engaging portion includes a plurality ofsecond engaging portions arranged in the extending direction of thelens, the second engaging portions being each interposed between acorresponding mutually adjoining pair of the first engaging portions,the lens can be easily and firmly attached to the interior member mainbody along the extending direction of the lens.

If the interior member main body includes a plate like main boardprovided on a door panel of a vehicle door, and a pocket member disposedon an inner side of the main board and defining a door pocket incooperation with the main body, and the light guide member and the lensare provided on at least one of the main board and the pocket member,the interior of the door pocket can be illuminated.

If the door pocket extends in a fore and aft direction on the vehicledoor, and the interior member recess is formed in a wall surface of atleast one of the main board and the pocket member on an inside of thedoor pocket, the interior member recess extending linearly along anextending direction of the door pocket, the door pocket can beilluminated along the extending direction of the door pocket. Inparticular, since the light guide member can be connected to theinterior member main body without bending, the assembling process isfacilitated, and the light guide member is protected from damages.

If the interior member recess is defined by an upper wall, a side walland a lower wall, the lower wall inclining downward toward an inner partof the door pocket, the light from the lens can illuminate a lower partof the door pocket so that the visibility of the storage space in thedoor pocket can be improved.

If the upper wall defining the interior member recess is disposedsubstantially horizontally, the light irradiated upward from the lens isshielded by the upper wall so that the visibility of the storage spacein the door pocket can be improved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING(S)

FIG. 1 is a side view showing a vehicle interior member (door trim)according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line II-II of FIG. 1:

FIG. 3 is a side view of an outer board and an inner board as viewedfrom the inside of the vehicle;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the inner board as viewed from the outside ofthe vehicle;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a light source, a light guide member,and a lens:

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a lighting device:

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line VII-VII of FIG. 3:

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII of FIG. 3;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view showing the lens before deformation (brokenline) and after deformation (solid line) when assembling the lens into arecess of the inner board:

FIG. 10A is a sectional view showing a case where engagement projectionsare provided on an outer surface of a second wall, and engagement clawsare provided on an outer surface of a third wall; and

FIG. 10B is a sectional view of an alternate embodiment of the presentinvention where engagement claws are provided on an outer surface ofeach of a second wall and a third wall.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

A vehicle interior member according to an embodiment of the presentinvention as applied to a door trim of a vehicle door on a right frontseat of a vehicle is described in the following with reference to thedrawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, a door trim 1 (interior member of a vehicle) coversan inboard surface of a door panel 3 which is a structural member of thedoor 2, and forms an inner wall of a cabin. The door panel 3 has aninner panel and an outer panel formed from sheet steel. The outer paneldefines the outer surface of the vehicle body, and the inner panel isdisposed on the inboard side of the outer panel, and is connected to theouter panel.

The door trim 1 is formed in a plate shape by a plurality of memberseach made of plastic material, and is arranged so that a major plane ofthe door trim 1 faces laterally on the inboard side of the door panel 3or, more specifically, on the inboard side of the inner panel.

A substantially vertically middle part of the door trim 1 is formed withan armrest 4 that bugles in the inboard direction. The armrest 4 extendsin the fore and aft direction from a middle part of the door trim 1 tothe rear edge thereof. The upper surface of the armrest 4 is providedwith a switch for controlling a window regulator and a lighting fixtureof the cabin.

A speaker grill 5 is provided in a lower front part of the door trim 1.A door pocket 6 extends in the fore and aft direction behind the speakergrill 5 and under the armrest 4. The door pocket 6 is provided with apocket recess 8 that has an open upper end, and defines a storage space7 therein.

The door trim 1 includes a plate shaped main board 10 serving as a basemember. The peripheral portion of the main board 10 extends toward theinner panel, and is connected to the inner panel. A gap is formedbetween the inner panel and the main board 10.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the main board 10 has a through hole 9 passedlaterally therethrough at a position corresponding to the door pocket 6.The door trim 1 is provided with an outer board 11 connected to anoutboard surface of the main board so as to cover the through hole 9from the outboard side, and an inner board 12 interposed between themain board 10 and the outer board 11 and connected to the outboard sideof the main board 10. The main board 10, the outer board 11, and theinner board 12 jointly form the main body (interior member main body) ofthe door trim 1.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the inner board 12 is formed in a plateshape, and extends in the fore and aft direction along the lower edge ofthe through hole 9 of the main board 10 on the outboard side of the mainboard 10. The inner board 12 is thus positioned along the lower edge ofthe through hole 9. The outer board 11 is formed in a plate shape, andgenerally corresponds to the through hole 9 of the main board 10 and theinner board 12 in shape. As shown in FIG. 2, the outer board 11protrudes in the inboard direction at the peripheral part thereof, andis recessed in the outboard direction at the center. Screw holes 13 areformed in the peripheral part of the outer board 11, and the front edgepart, the lower edge part, and the rear edge of the inner board 12 sothat the inner board 12 and the outer board 11 are jointly fastened tothe main board 10. The door pocket 6 is thus formed by fastening theinner board 12 and the outer board 11 to the main board 10. Therefore,the inner board 12 and the outer board 11 function as a pocket memberforming a door pocket in cooperation with the main board 10. The innerboard 12 forms the inboard wall of the storage space 7, and the outerboard 11 forms the outboard wall of the storage space 7.

As shown in FIG. 1, the front edge of the inner board 12 extends forwardfrom the gap between the main board 10 and the outer board 11 beyond thefront edge of the outer board 11. The front edge of the inner board 12is located between the inner panel and the main board 10.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the inner board 12 is provided with alighting device 15. As shown in FIG. 5, the lighting device 15 includesa light emitting member 16 including a light source, a light guidemember 17, and a lens 18 connecting the light guide member 17 to theinner board 12.

The light emitting member 16 includes a circuit board (not shown)provided with an LED device, a lens (not shown) for concentrating thelight emitted from the LED device at a predetermined position, and aholder 19 for accommodating the circuit board and the lens therein. Asshown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the light emitting member 16 is fastened to theoutboard surface of a front part of the inner board 12. The lightemitting member 16 is electrically connected to a prescribed powersupply (not shown) mounted on the vehicle body. The LED device functionsas a light source, and is controlled by the switch provided on thearmrest 4. A prescribed bolt hole is provided in the holder 19, and thelight emitting member 16 is fastened to the inner board 12.

The light guide member 17 is formed of a highly transparent resin. Thelight guide member 17 is formed in a linear shape (wire shape), and hasa circular cross section taken along a plane perpendicular to thelongitudinal direction, or in cross section. As shown in FIG. 4, thelight guide member 17 extends rearward from the light emitting member 16along the inner board 12, and reaches the rear end of the inner board12. One end of the light guide member 17 is coupled to the lightemitting member 16. Light emitted from the LED device is collected bythe lens of the light emitting member 16 and is incident to an end ofthe light guide member 17 coupled to the light emitting member 16. Thelight guide member 17 transmits the incident light along the lengthwisedirection, and emits the incident light from the outer peripheral sidesurface thereof. The light guide member 17 may consist of an opticalfiber cable configured to emit light from the side surface thereof byhaving a core member mixed with a material that diffuses the transmittedlight, or a core member with an irregular circumferential surface thatdiffuses the transmitted light.

The lens 18 is formed of a highly transparent resin that transmits lightemitted from the light guide member 17. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, thelens 18 includes a lens main body 20 extending along the lengthwisedirection of the light guide member 17, a plurality of engagement claws21 (first engagement portions) protruding from the outer surface of thelens main body 20, and a plurality of engagement projections 22 (secondengagement portions) protruding from the outer surface of the lens mainbody 20.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, the lens main body 20 includes a first wall23 provided along the light guide member 17, and a second wall 24 and athird wall 25 protruding from either side end of the first wall 23toward the light guide member 17. The first wall 23, the second wall 24,and the third wall 25 jointly form a groove 26 in the lens main body 20so as to be recessed in a direction perpendicular to the extendingdirection thereof. The lens main body 20 thus has a substantiallyU-shaped cross section with an open side facing in the inboarddirection. The light guide member 17 is received in the groove 26. Thelight guide member 17 is located between the second wall 24 and thethird wall 25. The first wall 23, the second wall 24, and the third wall25 each extend along the extending direction of the light guide member17, and the groove 26 is formed so as to extend along the extendingdirection of the lens main body 20.

In the present embodiment, the diameter of the light guide member 17 isslightly larger than the distance between the second wall 24 and thethird wall 25, and the light guide member 17 is press-fitted into thegroove 26. The light guide member 17 is thus held between the secondwall 24 and the third wall 25, and connected to the lens main body 20.The light emitted from the side surface of the light guide member 17passes through the lens main body 20 and is emitted from the outersurface of the lens 18.

The engagement claws 21 protrude from the surface of the second wall 24facing away from the light guide member 17 (hereinafter, referred to asthe outer surface of the second wall 24), or, in other words, from theupper surface of the second wall 24, and are arranged along theextending direction of the lens main body 20 substantially at regularintervals. Each engagement claw 21 is provided with an inclined surface27 which is inclined so as to come close to the light guide member 17toward the opening direction of the groove 26, and an engagement surface28 which is formed at an end of the inclined surface 27 remote from theopening of the groove 26 and substantially perpendicular to the outersurface of the second wall 24, and is thus claw-shaped. In the presentembodiment, the lens 18 is provided with six engagement claws 21.

The engagement projections 22 project from a surface of the third wall25 facing away from the light guide member 17 (hereinafter, referred toas an outer surface of the third wall 25), or, in other words, the lowersurface of the third wall 25 and are arranged at substantially equalintervals in the extending direction of the lens main body 20. Theengagement projections 22 protrude in a direction opposite to thedirection in which the engagement claws 21 protrude in a cross-sectionalview of the lens main body 20. Each engagement projection 22 is plateshaped, and has a major plane parallel to the extending direction of thelens main body 20. The engagement projections 22 are each formed at asubstantially central position between two mutually adjoining engagementclaws 21 with respect to the extending direction of the lens main body20. Therefore, the engagement claws 21 and the engagement projections 22alternately protrude upward and downward, respectively, along theextending direction of the lens main body 20, and are thus arranged in astaggered manner. In the present embodiment, the lens 18 is providedwith five engagement projections 22.

As shown in FIG. 6, the amount of protrusion of each engagement claw 21from the outer surface of the second wall 24 (L1 in FIG. 6) is selectedto be smaller than the amount of protrusion of each engagementprojection 22 from the outer surface of the third wall 25 (L2 in FIG.6).

As shown in FIG. 8, in the present embodiment, each engagementprojection 22 is provided on the free end of the outer surface of thethird wall 25, or, in other words, at the end of the third wall 25 onside of the groove 26. Thereby, the opening edge of the groove 26 isreinforced, and damage to the lens 18 can be prevented.

Under a loading that causes the second wall 24 and the third wall 25 tomove toward each other, the lens main body 20 is elastically deformed sothat the second wall 24 and the third wall 25 approach each other. FIG.9 shows the lens 18 before deformation in a broken line, and the lens 18after deformation in a solid line. When a downward load is applied tothe second wall 24 and an upward load is applied to the third wall 25,the lens main body 20 is deformed so that the distance between thesecond wall 24 and the third wall 25 is reduced.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 7, the inner board 12 is formed with a boardrecess 29 (interior member recess) that is recessed in the outboarddirection. As shown in FIG. 4, the board recess 29 extends substantiallylinearly rearward from the position where the light emitting member 16is attached to the inner board 12. The board recess 29 receives the lens18 and the light guide member 17 therein.

The light guide member 17 extends from the light emitting member 16along the board recess 29, between the outer board 11 and the innerboard 12, and reaches the interior of the pocket recess 8. The lens 18extends in the fore and aft direction along the light guide member 17inside the pocket recess 8. The light emitted from the LED devicereaches the pocket recess 8 via the light guide member 17. As shown inFIG. 2, inside the pocket recess 8, the light emitted from the sidesurface of the light guide member 17 reaches the storage space 7 throughthe lens 18, and illuminates the storage space 7. Therefore, theoccupant can easily visually recognize the stored items inside thestorage space 7. In the present embodiment, the lens 18 is provided soas to extend only along the part of the light guide member 17 locatedinside the pocket recess 8, but, alternatively, the lens 18 may extendadditionally along the part of the light guide member 17 extending fromthe light emitting member 16 to the pocket recess 8.

As shown in FIG. 1, a door pocket 6 is formed in the door trim 1 so asto extend in the fore and aft direction. As shown in FIG. 4, the boardrecess 29 also extends substantially in the fore and aft direction so asto correspond with the door pocket 6. The light guide member 17 alsoextends along the direction in which the door pocket 6 extends.Therefore, the storage space 7 is illuminated over the entire fore andaft length thereof. In addition, since the board recess 29 extendssubstantially linearly, the light guide member 17 can be received in theboard recess 29 without being bent so that the damage to the light guidemember 17 that could be caused by bending can be avoided.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the upper surface of the board recess 29 isdefined by an upper wall 30, the inboard surface by an inboard wall 31,and the lower surface by a lower wall 32. The upper wall 30 and thelower wall 32 face each other. The lens 18 is arranged such that theouter surface of the second wall 24 thereof faces upward, the outersurface of the third wall 25 thereof faces downward, and the first wall23 thereof closes the opening of the board recess 29 while spaced fromthe inboard wall 31. The first wall 23, the second wall 24, the thirdwall 25, and the inboard wall 31 jointly define a receiving chamber 33that receives the light guide member 17. The light guide member 17 issurrounded by the first wall 23, the second wall 24, the third wall 25,and the inboard wall 31 in the receiving chamber 33 so that the movementof the light guide member 17 in the vertical and lateral directions isrestricted.

The upward movement of the lens main body 20 is restricted by the upperwall 30, and the downward movement of the lens main body 20 isrestricted by the lower wall 32. Preferably, the mutually opposing wallsurfaces of the upper wall 30 and the lower wall 32 respectively contactthe second wall 24 and the third wall 25, respectively, when the lensmain body 20 is received in the board recess 29. Since the second wall24 abuts on the upper wall 30 and the third wall 25 abuts on the lowerwall 32, the lens 18 is prevented from being dislodged from the boardrecess 29.

A first receiving hole 34 (first engaged portion) is passed verticallythrough the part of the upper wall 30 corresponding to each engagementclaw 21. A second receiving hole 35 (second engaged portion) is passedvertically through the part of the lower wall 32 corresponding to eachengagement projection 22. In the present embodiment, six first receivingholes 34 and five second receiving holes 35 are formed in the innerboard 12.

As shown in FIG. 7, each engagement claw 21 is fitted in thecorresponding first receiving hole 34. Once the engagement claw 21 isreceived in the first receiving hole 34, the engagement surface 28 ofthe engagement claw 21 contacts a wall surface defining the firstreceiving hole 34 so that the movement of the upper part of the lens 18in the lateral direction is restricted.

As shown in FIG. 8, each engagement projection 22 is fitted in thecorresponding second receiving hole 35. Owing to the engagement betweenthe engagement projection 22 and the second receiving hole 35, the lowerpart of the lens 18 is restricted from moving in the lateral direction.Since the engagement projection 22 is passed through the secondreceiving hole 35, the movement of the lower part of the lens 18 in thelateral direction is restricted in a highly reliable manner.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, each first receiving hole34 extends through the upper wall 30 and an upper part of the inboardwall 31. As shown in FIG. 8, each second receiving hole 35 extendsthrough the lower wall 32 and a lower part of the inboard wall 31.Therefore, the corresponding engagement claw 21 and the engagementprojection 22 can be easily fitted into the first receiving hole 34 andthe second receiving hole 35, respectively.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 7, and 8, the vertical movement of the lens mainbody 20 is restricted by the upper wall 30 and the lower wall 32. Owingto these restrictions, the lens 18 is connected to the inner board 12,and the light guide member 17 is connected to the inner board 12 via thelens 18.

The width of each second receiving hole 35 in the extending direction ofthe board recess 29 is substantially equal to or slightly greater thanthe width of the engagement projection 22 in the extending direction ofthe lens main body 20. Since the front wall and the rear wall definingthe second receiving hole 35 restrict the movement of the engagementprojection 22 in the fore and aft direction, the movement of the lens 18in the extending direction of the board recess 29 is restricted.Thereby, the lens 18 can be firmly connected to the inner board 12.

As shown in FIG. 2, the upper wall 30 has a major plane that extendssubstantially horizontally, or faces in the vertical direction.Therefore, the light emitted upward from the lens 18 is blocked by theupper wall 30. On the other hand, the lower wall 32 is inclined downwardtoward the inside of the pocket recess 8. Therefore, the lightirradiated downward from the lens 18 reaches the storage space 7 withoutbeing blocked by the lower wall 32. Since the light emitted from thelens 18 does not directly reach the occupant's eyes, the occupant caneasily see the inside of the storage space 7.

The process of assembling the lens 18 and the light guide member 17 tothe inner board 12 is discussed in the following. After the light guidemember 17 is pressed into the groove 26, the engagement projections 22are inserted into the respective second receiving holes 35. Thereafter,as shown by an arrow in FIG. 9, the lens main body 20 is pushed into theboard recess 29. At this time, the inclined surface 27 is pressed by theupper wall 30 so that a downward force is applied to the second wall 24.As the upward force is applied to the third wall 25 by the lower wall32, the lens main body 20 is elastically deformed. The engagement claws21 move toward the third wall due to the elastic deformation of the lensmain body 20. As a result, the lens 18 can be rotated about the lowerend of the lens main body 20 in the direction to move the lens main body20 into the board recess 29. At this time, by elastically deforming thelens main body 20 to such an extent that the distance between the secondwall 24 and the third wall 25 becomes smaller by about the amount ofprotrusion of the engagement claws 21 before deformation, the lens mainbody 20 can be inserted into the board recess 29. Thus, since the amountof protrusion of the engagement claws 21 from the outer surface of thesecond wall 24 is smaller than that of the engagement projection 22, theamount of deformation of the lens main body 20 required for the assemblyprocess can be reduced so that the assembly process is facilitated.

As the lens 18 is rotated, the engagement claws 21 are fitted into therespective first receiving holes 34, and the assembly process iscompleted. As described above, since the assembly process is completedsimply by inserting the lens main body 20 into the board recess 29, theassembly process can be performed with ease. Since the inclined surface27 is formed on each engagement projection 22, the lens main body 20 canbe easily deformed so that the lens main body 20 can be easily insertedinto the board recess 29.

The advantages of the door trim 1 are discussed in the following. Afterthe light guide member 17 is pressed into the groove 26, the engagementprojections 22 are inserted into the respective second receiving holes35 in such a manner that the lens main body 20 is elastically deformed,and the engagement claws 21 are engaged by the respective firstreceiving holes 34. This completes the assembly of the light guidemember 17 and the lens 18 to the inner board 12. Therefore, the assemblyis simple. Further, by suitably selecting the arrangement of the firstreceiving holes 34 and the second receiving holes 35, the light guidemember 17 and the lens 18 can be attached to desired positions of theinner board 12. Therefore, the degree of freedom of arrangement of thelight guide member 17 and the lens 18 is improved.

The lens 18 is connected to the inner board 12 via the engagement claws21 and the engagement projections 22 formed on the upper and lowersurfaces of the lens main body 20, respectively. The engagement claws 21and the engagement projections 22 project in mutually oppositedirections. Since the lens main body 20 is connected to the inner board12 at the upper part and the lower part thereof, the connection betweenthe lens 18 and the inner board 12 is very firm. Therefore, even whenthe occupant touches the lens 18, the lens 18 is prevented from beingdislodged from the inner board 12.

The lens 18 is received in the board recess 29, and does not protrudefrom the inner wall surface of the inner board 12 into the pocket recess8. Therefore, the occupant's hand is prevented from touching the lens 18so that the lens 18 is prevented from being dislodged from the innerboard 12.

As shown in FIG. 2, the light guide member 17 is covered by the lensmain body 20 from above and below and from the outboard direction, andis surrounded by the lens 18 and the outer wall surface of the innerboard 12 in such a manner that the light guide member 17 is not exposedto the interior of the pocket recess 8. Therefore, the light guidemember 17 is protected by the lens main body 20, and the light guidemember 17 is protected from damages. Further, the light guide member 17is prevented from becoming dirty so that stable illumination can beensured.

The engagement projections 22 project from the outer surface of thethird wall in parallel with each other. Therefore, the engagementprojections 22 can be easily fitted into the respective second receivingholes 35. Further, by providing the engagement claws 21 and theengagement projections 22 on the lens main body 20, the lens main body20 is reinforced and the lens 18 is protected from damages.

Further, since the light guide member 17 is press fitted into andretained in the groove 26, no engagement features are required to beprovided on the light guide member 17 so that the connecting structurebetween the light guide member 17 and the lens 18 can be simplified.

The engagement claws 21 and the engagement projections 22 alternatelyprotrude along the extending direction of the lens 18. Therefore, ascompared with the case where the engagement claws 21 and the engagementprojections 22 project up and down, respectively, at the same positionsin the extending direction of the lens main body 20, the assembling ofthe lens 18 is simplified because the engagement claws 21 and theengagement projections 22 can be engaged with the first receiving holes34 and the second receiving holes 35, respectively, in a sequentialmanner from one end to the other. Further, since the lens 18 is coupledto the inner board 12 in the upper part and the lower part thereof in analternating manner along the extending direction, the coupling betweenthe lens 18 and the inner board 12 can be strengthened.

The present invention has been described in terms of a specificembodiment, but is not limited by such an embodiment, and can bemodified in various ways without departing from the scope of the presentinvention. The first receiving holes 34 and the second receiving holes35 were formed as through holes for receiving the engagement claws 21and the engagement projections 22, respectively, in the foregoingembodiment, but may also be formed in any forms of recesses that areconfigured to receive and engage the engagement claws 21 and theengagement projections 22.

As shown in FIG. 10(A), the engagement projections 22 may be provided onthe outer surface of the second wall 24 of the lens main body 20, andthe engagement claw 21 may be provided on the outer surface of the thirdwall 25 of the lens main body 20. In this case, the engagementprojections 22 are inserted into the respective first receiving holes34, and the engagement claws 21 are engaged by the respective secondreceiving holes 35. As shown in FIG. 10(B), the engagement claws 50 mayalso be provided on both the outer surface of the second wall 24 and theouter surface of the third wall 25 of the lens main body 20, and areengaged by the first receiving holes 34 and the second receiving holes35.

In the foregoing embodiment, the light guide member 17 was press fittedinto the groove 26. However, it may be arranged such that the lightguide member 17 is clamped between the second wall 24 and the third wall25 of the lens main body 20 owing to the pressure which the second wall24 and the third wall 25 of the lens main body 20 receives from theupper wall 30 and the lower wall 32 of the board recess 29 in thedirection directed toward the light guide member 17 when the lens mainbody 20 is fitted into the board recess 29. Further, the optical fiber(the light guide member 17) may be prevented from being dislodged fromthe groove 26 by providing projections on the surfaces of the secondwall 24 and the third wall 25 facing the light guide member 17.

In the foregoing embodiment, the light guide member 17 and the lens 18were provided on the inner board 12, but may also be provided on theouter board 11. When a pocket board for forming the door pocket 6 isattached the main board 10 without forming the through hole 9, the lightguide member 17 and the lens 18 may be provided either on the main board10 or on the pocket board.

In the foregoing embodiment, the lighting device 15 illuminated thestorage space 7 of the door pocket 6, but may also be provided on anyother member forming a part of the cabin. For example, the lightingdevice 15 may be configured to illuminate a switch provided on thearmrest, or the feet of the occupant when closing or opening the door.Further, in the foregoing embodiment, the present invention was appliedto the door trim 1, but may also be applied to a member forming a centerconsole or a dashboard.

Glossary

-   1: door trim (vehicle interior member)-   2: door-   3: door panel-   6: door pocket-   10: main board-   11: outer board (pocket member)-   12: inner board (pocket member)-   17: light guide member-   18: lens-   19: holder-   21: engagement claw (first engaging portion)-   22: engagement projection (second engaging portion)-   23: first wall-   24: second wall-   25: third wall-   26: groove-   29: board recess (recess of interior member)-   30: upper wall-   31: inboard wall-   32: lower wall-   34: first receiving hole (first engaged portion)-   35: second receiving hole (second engaged portion)

1. An interior member for a vehicle, comprising: an interior member mainbody forming an inner wall of a cabin; a linear light guide memberconfigured to conduct light from a light source in a lengthwisedirection and to irradiate the light from a side surface thereof; and alens that transmits the light irradiated from the light guide member;wherein the lens extends along the light guide member, and is providedwith a groove receiving the light guide member therein, a first engagingportion provided on a wall that defines the groove, and a secondengaging portion provided on a wall that defines the groove, and theinterior member main body is provided with a first engaged portionengaged by the first engaging portion, and a second engaged portionengaged by the second engaging portion, the lens being resilientlydeformable so as to bring the walls defining the groove toward eachother.
 2. The interior member for a vehicle according to claim 1,wherein the lens includes a first wall extending along the light guidemember, and a second wall and a third wall extending from either sideedge of the first wall toward the light guide member, the groove beingdefined by the first wall, the second wall and the third wall.
 3. Theinterior member for a vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the interiormember main body is provided with an interior member recess receivingthe light guide member and the lens therein, wherein the first engagingportion projects from a surface of the second wall facing away from thelight guide member, and the first engaged portion comprises a holeformed in a wall part of the interior member main body defining theinterior member recess so as to receive the first engaging portiontherein, and wherein the second engaging portion projects from a surfaceof the third wall facing away from the light guide member, and thesecond engaged portion comprises a hole formed in a wall part of theinterior member main body defining the interior member recess so as toreceive the second engaging portion therein.
 4. The interior member fora vehicle according to claim 3, wherein a projecting amount of the firstengaging proportion from the surface of the second wall is smaller thana projecting amount of the second engaging proportion from the surfaceof the third wall.
 5. The interior member for a vehicle according toclaim 4, wherein the second engaged portion is passed through the wallpart defining the interior member recess, and the second engagingportion is passed through the second engaged portion.
 6. The interiormember for a vehicle according to claim 5, wherein the second engagingportion is formed in a free end edge of the third wall.
 7. The interiormember for a vehicle according to claim 6, wherein the first engagingportion includes a plurality of first engaging portions arranged in anextending direction of the lens, and the second engaging portion eachincludes a plurality of second engaging portions arranged in theextending direction of the lens, the second engaging portions being eachinterposed between a corresponding mutually adjoining pair of the firstengaging portions.
 8. The interior member for a vehicle according toclaim 3, wherein the interior member main body includes a plate-likemain board provided on a door panel of a vehicle door, and a pocketmember disposed on an inner side of the main board and defining a doorpocket in cooperation with the main body, and the light guide member andthe lens are provided on at least one of the main board and the pocketmember.
 9. The interior member for a vehicle according to claim 8,wherein the door pocket extends in a fore and aft direction on thevehicle door, and the interior member recess is formed in a wall surfaceof at least one of the main board and the pocket member on an inside ofthe door pocket, the interior member recess extending linearly along anextending direction of the door pocket.
 10. The interior member for avehicle according to claim 8, wherein the interior member recess isdefined by an upper wall, a side wall and a lower wall, the lower wallinclining downward toward an inner part of the door pocket.
 11. Theinterior member for a vehicle according to claim 10, wherein the upperwall defining the interior member recess is disposed substantiallyhorizontally.